Eight Cape Town City beaches awarded Blue Flag status
Blue flags will fly high this summer after the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa awarded Blue Flag status to eight of the city’s beaches.
Eight beaches in Cape Town have been awarded Blue Flag status by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), while two others were awarded pilot Blue Flag status.
The City of Cape Town has successfully participated in the Blue Flag Beach programme since its inception in South Africa in 2001.
The following beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status for this season, which runs from 1 December 2023 to 31 January 2024
Bikini Beach
Camps Bay
Clifton 4th Beach
Fish Hoek
Llandudno
Melkbosstrand
Muizenberg
Silwerstroom
Mnandi and Strandfontein were awared Pilot Blue Flag Status.
WESSA uses 33 criteria across four categories to determine whether a beach meets the requirements for Blue Flag recognition. The categories are Environmental Education and Awareness, Water Quality, Environmental Management and Safety Services.
Among the criteria are universal access, effective waste management, availability of interpretive signage and control of domestic animals, e.g. dogs on beaches.
ALSO READ: The safest cities in South Africa
According to Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Councillor Patricia Van der Ross, the Blue Flag announcement is a fantastic boost not only for our Recreation and Parks Department but Cape Town as a whole. As the summer season progresses our beaches and recreational facilities will be bustling with residents and visitors. A lot of hard work behind the scenes continues to ensure that the City is ready for summer and that residents and visitors alike will enjoy our world-class amenities and facilities.
Details of lifeguard deployments and general summer safety plans will be made public in the coming weeks, as the countdown to the festive season begins.